Democrat-aligned Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford defended her sentencing record at Wednesday night’s debate against conservative candidate Brad Schimel, particularly her decision to give a reduced sentence to a pedophile convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl.
The debate, hosted by ABC affiliate WISN 12 at Marquette University Law School, was the only face-off before the April 1 election. The race follows a 2023 Supreme Court election that flipped the court’s balance to a 4-3 liberal majority. With the retirement of liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, the election presents an opportunity for conservatives to retake control of the court, while Democrats seek to use the court’s influence to reshape legislative maps and impact national elections.
During the debate, Crawford was questioned about a 2020 case in which she sentenced a child sex offender to four years in prison, despite prosecutors requesting 10 years. When asked if she regretted the sentence, Crawford stated, “I don’t regret that sentence because I followed the law … My goal is always to keep the community safe.” Schimel, however, criticized her decision, arguing, “My opponent just revealed the problem in her judgment, prioritizing minimal sentences over community protection.”
Schimel’s campaign has aired attack ads highlighting the case of Curtis O’Brien, who faced up to 60 years in prison but was ultimately sentenced to four years by Crawford. Due to time served, O’Brien was released after only two years and now resides near multiple schools in Madison, Wisconsin.
Crawford’s campaign is backed by major left-wing donors, including George Soros and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. When asked about Soros’ financial support, Crawford avoided a direct answer, instead focusing on the Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s endorsement of her candidacy.
The race is expected to surpass the record $56 million spent in the 2023 election, with both parties heavily invested in its outcome.
